Gaming machine

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon the Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-108284 filed on Mar. 31, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a game machine having a game base providing a game region through which a game ball runs provided at the front surface side of that base.

2. Description of the Related Art

Well-known conventional gaming machines consist of a game base comprised of a synthetic resin having determined transparency and a display device arranged at the rear surface side of the game base, an image displayed by the display device (e.g. display of changing identifying information) being able to be viewed by a player via the game base having determined transparency.

Further, as shown for example in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3114968, the game base consists of a substrate formed of a synthetic resin having determined transparency and a protective sheet fixed to the front surface side of that substrate.

The substrate is comprised of a synthetic resin having determined transparency such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin or the like. Further, a mounting hole facilitating the mounting of a movable opening (movable unit) or a special winning opening (special winning unit) is formed on the substrate.

The protective sheet is formed of a synthetic resin having determined transparency such as nylon film or polyethylene terephthalate or the like. This protective sheet prevents the surface side of the game base from being damaged by a game ball running in the game region provided at the front surface side of the game base.

When forming the above described game base however the protective sheet and the substrate must be joined, layered together with a high degree of precision. A problem related to this joining of the sheet and the substrate is that if even a small degree of positional displacement occurs between them as they are joined, a defective product results. This occurs frequently, leading to a low production yield.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention a game machine having a game base with a game region in which a game ball runs provided at the front surface side of that base is provided, this game base being formed of a substrate formed of a first synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, having determined transparency, and a thin-film formed on the front surface side of the substrate by painting thereon a second synthetic resin of determined transparency, including an ultraviolet curing resin, such as a solvent including acetone and toluene, a urethane resin, an acrylic resin and a silicon resin.

According to this first aspect of the present invention the film including an ultraviolet curing resin is formed on the front surface side of the substrate by painting thereon the second synthetic resin thereby obviating the necessity of precisely matching the positions of the substrate and thin-film layer, enabling an improvement in the production yield of the game base. Further the game base can be easily coated by such a thin-film layer.

Moreover, as the thin-film layer is comprised of the second synthetic resin the front surface side of the game base is protected from damage caused by a game ball running through the game region (game base).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view providing an outline of a game machine according to this embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the positional relationships of the game base, spacer and liquid crystal display device of the game machine according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view of the game base of this embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an example of the movement of the game ball flowing through the gaming region provided by the game base of this embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the formation method of the game base of this embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the UV hard coating process used for this embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the game base of this embodiment; and

FIG. 8 shows the ratios of the acrylic resin and the silicon resin of this embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The best embodiment of the invention will now be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings, like reference numerals identify like elements.

[Configuration of the Game Machine]

The configuration of the game machine according to this embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view providing an outline of the game machine 1 according to this embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 the game machine 1 provides an external frame 10 that facilitates the mounting of the game machine 1 in a game hall, an inner frame 20 disposed so as to be capable of opening and shutting at the front side of the external frame 10, a game base 30 providing a game region in which a game ball moves and a shooting handle 9 configured such that by the rotational operation thereof a game ball is shot through the game region.

Further, the game region over the game base 30 has disposed thereon, a guide member 3, a guide member 4, regular winning opening 5, a starting opening 6, a special winning opening 7 and an outer opening 8. In FIG. 1 the spikes disposed in the game region are omitted.

The guide member 3 operates to change the direction of movement of a game ball shot through the game region. Further, this guide member 3 provides guide opening 3a and guide opening 3b for guiding a game ball to the rear surface side of the game base 30.

The guide member 4 operates to change the direction of movement of the game ball shot through the game region. Further, this guide member 4 provides guide opening 4a and guide opening 4b for guiding a game ball that has been guided to the rear side surface of the game base 30 to the front side surface of the game base 30.

Each regular winning opening 5 is configured such that if a game ball enters 20 therein a determined number of game balls, 15 for example, are delivered out as prize balls.

The starting opening 6 is configured such that if a game ball passes through the trigger region disposed inside the starting opening, a random number is extracted that is used to determine whether or not the game proceeds to a big win condition.

The special winning opening 7 is configured so as to open and shut in accordance with predetermined conditions once the condition of the game has transitioned to the big win condition. Further, the special winning opening 7 is configured such that if a game ball enters therein a determined number of game balls, 15 for example, can be delivered out as prize balls.

The outer opening 8 operates to receive a ball that has not entered either a regular winning opening 5, the starting opening 6 for the special winning opening 7.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the positional relationships of the game base 30, spacer 40 and liquid crystal display device 50 of the game machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 the spacer 40 is disposed to the rear surface of the game base 30, while the liquid crystal display device 50 is arranged to the rear surface of the spacer 40.

Basically, the game base 30 is comprised of a synthetic resin, such as polycarbonate for example, having a determined transparency (passing not less than 50% of light for example). Further, a mounting hole 31 to facilitate the mounting of the guide member 3 and a mounting hole 32 to facilitate the mounting of the guide member 4, as well as a mounting hole 33 facilitating the mounting of the starting opening 6 and a mounting hole 34 for the mounting of the special winning opening 7 are formed in the game base 30. Moreover, a plurality of spike holes 35 are formed in the game base 30 to facilitate the mounting of a plurality of spikes 2 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2) that operate to change the direction of the flow of a game ball shot through the gaming region.

The spacer 40 is a spacer between the game base 30 and the liquid crystal display device 50 that operates to prevent the rear mechanism (e.g. a solenoid) of the special winning opening 7 or the starting opening 6 mounted on the game base 30 from coming into contact with the liquid crystal display device 50.

The liquid crystal display device 50 displays for example variable identification information (e.g. a special symbol) or an effect image that excites the game. A player is able to view a determined image displayed on the liquid crystal display device 50 via the game base 30 having a determined transparency.

FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view of the game base 30 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3 the mounting hole 31, the mounting hole 32, the mounting hole 33, the mounting hole 34 and the spike hole 35 are disposed in the game base 30.

Basically, the guide member 3 is set inserted in the mounting hole 31 while determined claws (not shown in the drawing) provided by the guide member 3 engage at the rear surface side of the game base 30 thereby securing the guide member 3 to the game base 30. It is also suitable for the guide member 3 to be secured to the game base 30 by being screwed into place.

The guide member 4 is set inserted in the mounting hole 32 while determined claws (not shown in the drawing) provided by the guide member 4 engage at the rear surface side of the game base 30 thereby securing the guide member 4 to the game base 30. It is also suitable for the guide member 4 to be secured to the game base 30 by being screwed into place.

The starting opening 6 is set inserted in the mounting hole 33 while determined claws (not shown in the drawing) provided by the starting opening 6 engage at the rear surface side of the game base 30 thereby securing the starting opening 6 to the game base 30. It is also suitable for the starting opening 6 to be secured to the game base 30 by being screwed into place.

The special winning opening 7 is set inserted in the mounting hole 34 while determined claws (not shown in the drawing) provided by the special winning opening 7 [engages/engage] at the rear surface side of the game base 30 thereby securing the special winning opening 7 to the game base 30. It is also suitable for the special winning opening 7 to be secured to the game base 30 by being screwed into place.

The spikes 2 have a convex part (screw thread) having a helicoid form and are each secured to the game base 30 via the spike hole 35 having a concave part (screw core) of a helicoid form in the inside thereof.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the movement of the game ball flowing through the gaming region provided by the game base 30. As shown in FIG. 4 the ball shot through the gaming region runs down through the gaming region, the direction of the ball being altered as it collides with the spike 2. As this occurs, if the ball enters the guide opening 3a provided by the guide member 3, the ball is directed to the rear surface side of the game base 30 and, entering the guide opening 4a provided by the guide member 4, the ball is directed to the front surface side of the game base 30 once again.

In this way the direction of the flow of the ball shot through the gaming region is altered by the spike 2, the guide member 3 and the guide member 4 as it moves at the front surface side and the rear surface side of the game base 30.

[Production of the Gaming Machine]

The method of forming the game base 30 according to this embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the formation method of the game base of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, at step 100 a granular synthetic resin material having a determined transparency is inserted in an extrusion forming apparatus forming a planar shaped synthetic resin sheet (stage 1). Here, determined transparency means for example that not less than 50% of light is passed by the material, and this synthetic resin having a determined transparency can be for example a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, an acrylic resin, polyethylene or the like.

At step 110 the extrusion forming apparatus extrudes the synthetic resin deposited therein to form the planar shaped synthetic resin sheet (stage 1). Basically, the extrusion forming apparatus melts the granular synthetic resin material by applying heat thereto and the melted synthetic resin is extruded via a mold. Further, the extrusion forming apparatus cools the synthetic resin thus extruded as it passes the mold to produce the planar synthetic resin sheet (stage 1).

This synthetic resin sheet (stage 1) is of sufficient size (here for example 880 mm×925 mm×10.5 mm) to enable a determined number of sheets (in the case of this embodiment, 4 sheets) of a substrate (game base 30) to be cut out. Further, the synthetic resin sheet (stage 1) formed by the extrusion forming apparatus is fed through to a dicing machine for cutting out these synthetic resin sheets.

At step 120 the dicing machine cuts the synthetic resin sheet (stage 1) formed by the extrusion molding apparatus into the prescribed number of sheets, 4 sheets for this embodiment, of the substrate (game base 30). Each of these game base sheets is 428 mm×450 mm×10.5 mm. Further, each of these substrates cut out by the dicing machine is then delivered to devices that form a thin-film layer on the surface thereof, this being provided by for example by a coating device that applies a solvent and a UV hard coating device that irradiates UV.

At step 130 the coating device sprays a solvent having a determined transparency, including an ultraviolet curing resin such as a urethane resin or the like, over the front surface of the substrate thereby coating that substrate surface with the solvent. Further, the hard coating device forms a thin-film layer on the front side surface of the substrate by irradiating ultraviolet light on the substrate surface to which the solvent has thus been applied (UV hard coating process). The details of this UV hard coating process are described subsequently (refer to FIG. 6).

At step 140 the coating device sprays a solvent having a determined transparency, including an ultraviolet curing resin such as a urethane resin or the like, over the rear surface of the substrate thereby coating that substrate surface with the solvent. Further, the hard coating device forms a thin-film layer on the rear surface of the substrate by irradiating ultraviolet light on the substrate surface to which the solvent has thus been applied (UV hard coating process). The details of this UV hard coating process are described subsequently (refer to FIG. 6).

The thin-film layer acts to protect the front surface of the game base 30 from sustaining injury as a result of movements of a game ball running through the game region. Further, a substrate having a thin-film layer formed on both the front and rear surfaces thereof (synthetic resin sheet, stage 2) is then delivered to a router processing device that forms the mounting hole 31, the mounting hole 32, the mounting hole 33 and the mounting hole 34 as well as the spike hole 35.

At step 150 the router processing device forms the mounting hole 31, the mounting hole 32, the mounting hole 33 and the mounting hole 34 as well as the spike hole 35 by cutting the synthetic resin sheet (stage 2) based on specific processing data.

The UV hard coating process will now be described with reference to the drawings. The UV coating processes at step 130 and step 140 are the same, therefore the process as it applies at step 130 to the front side surface will be provided as an example.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the UV hard coating process used for this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, at step 131 a preprocessing apparatus processes the front side surface of the substrate by applying heat. Basically, this preprocessing apparatus applies heat to the front side surface of the substrate using a burner or the like, forming a silicon film layer on the front surface of the sub will now be described.

At step 132 dust and electricity removing equipment is used to perform processes that eliminate static electricity charged on the front side surface of the substrate or dust adhering to that front side surface.

At step 133 the coating apparatus sprays a solvent, including an organic solvent including acetone and toluene, an ultraviolet curing resin (e.g. a urethane resin), an acrylic resin and a silicon resin over the front surface of the substrate, thereby performing the process of coating the front side surface of the substrate with solvent.

At step 134 a far-infrared irradiating device is used performing a process that dries the solvent applied to the front surface of the substrate (far-infrared process). At this point, due to the difference in the specific gravity of the acrylic resin included in the solvent applied to the front surface of the substrate and the specific gravity of the silicon resin, an acrylic resin layer forms underneath, closer to the substrate while a silicon resin layer forms further from the substrate. Further, the acrylic resin layer welds to the polycarbonate forming the substrate due to the action of the organic solvent such as acetone or toluene.

The ultraviolet curing resin is included in both the acrylic resin layer and the silicon resin layer. Further, the organic solvent such as acetone or toluene welds the acrylic resin layer to the polycarbonate then evaporates due to the far-infrared process.

At step 135, the UV hard coating apparatus performs a process to irradiate the solvent coated on the front surface of the substrate with ultraviolet rays. This causes the ultraviolet curing resin included in the solvent applied to the front surface of the substrate to harden and the thin-film layer consisting of the acrylic layer and the silicon resin to form on the front surface of the substrate.

The configuration of the game base 30 according to this embodiment will now be described. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the game base of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the game base 30 comprises a substrate 63 formed of polycarbonate or the like, an acrylic resin layer 61a formed on the front surface of the substrate 63, an acrylic resin layer 61b formed on the rear surface of the substrate 63, and a silicon resin layer 62a formed on the front side surface of the acrylic resin layer 61a and a silicon resin layer 62b formed on the rear surface of the acrylic resin layer 61b.

Basically, the acrylic resin layer 61a and the acrylic resin layer 61b weld to the front and rear surfaces respectively of the substrate 63 comprised of polycarbonate. Accordingly, the thin-film layers formed of the acrylic resin layer 61a and the silicon resin layer 62a are comprised such that they do not peel away easily from the front surface of the substrate 63. In the same manner, the thin-film layers comprised of the acrylic resin layer 61b and the silicon resin layer 62b are comprised such that they do not peel away easily from the rear surface of the substrate 63.

The specific gravity of the acrylic resin is greater than the specific gravity of the silicon resin thus the silicon resin layer 62a is formed on the front side surface of the game base 30 by the far-infrared process described above with respect to step 134. The silicon resin layer 62b forms on the rear surface side of the game base 30 in the same manner.

Basically, as shown in FIG. 8, the further away from the substrate 63 (polycarbonate), the higher the ratio of the silicon resin, the closer to the substrate 63 (polycarbonate), the higher the ratio of acrylic resin.

The acrylic resin used for this embodiment is a polymer of an acrylic alkyl ester such as ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylamide, amyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, benzyl acrylate and the like, a methacrylate alkyl ester such as butyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate or ethyl methacrylate. Further it is also suitable for the acrylic resin to be from a copolymerization with these and a vinyl copolymer synthetic, such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionic acid, vinyl ether, styrene, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile.

Further, the coating device for this embodiment applies a solvent to the substrate by spraying the solvent thereon (coating process of step 133), however this description is illustrative and not restrictive and it is also suitable to apply the solvent to the substrate by dipping the substrate in a solvent bath.

[Operation and Effects of the Invention]

The game base 30 of this embodiment of the present invention has a thin-film layer, provided by the acrylic resin layer 61a and the silicon resin layer 62a, wherein a solvent including ultraviolet curing resin (e.g. a urethane resin or the like) is applied to the substrate formed on the front surface side of the substrate 63, obviating the need for positional alignment of the substrate 63 with the thin-film layer, thereby realizing an improved production yield of the game base 30. Further, the thin-film layer can be easily coated on to the substrate 63.

Moreover, the far-infrared process device hardens the solvent, including the ultraviolet curing urethane, an acrylic resin and the silicon resin, coated on to the substrate 63 (step 134) and is able to complete this solvent drying process in a short time.

Again, the silicon resin layer 62a is formed on the front side surface side of the substrate 63, providing more effective protection preventing the front side surface side of the game base 30 from sustaining damage caused by a game ball running through the gaming region.

Further, as the acrylic resin layer 61a adheres to the front side surface side of the substrate 63 comprised of polycarbonate, the silicon resin layer 62a is formed so as not to be easily detached from the substrate 63.

Moreover, the thin-film layers comprised of the acrylic resin layer 61b and the silicon resin layer 62b being formed on the rear side surface side of the substrate 63, the rear surface side of the game base 30 is afforded protection by these thin-film layers from a game ball moving across the rear surface side of the game base 30 when the guide opening 3a and the guide opening 3b that guide a game ball around the rear surface side of the game base 30 are provided by the game base 30.

Again, the thin-film layers protect the rear surface side of the game base 30 from sustaining damage during the production processes of the game machine 1, for example the process of attaching the game base 30 to the game machine 1.

Finally, as the liquid crystal display device 50 providing a variable display of a special symbol is provided at the rear side surface side of the game base 30 formed of a synthetic resin, (polycarbonate, acrylic risen, silicon resin and urethane resin) that has a determined transparency, it is not necessary to provide a display opening in the game base 30 in order to enable a player to view a variable display of the special symbol shown by the liquid crystal display device 50. That is to say, a player is able to view the variable display of the special symbol via the game base 30 having a determined transparency. These features enable realization of a simplified production process for the game base 30.

Gaming machine

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